Shoe-sewing machine



March 26, 1929. J REED 1,706,743

SHOE SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 11 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN EN+DKZ W/ KW FEA BI March 26, 1929. REED 1,706,743

SHOE SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 11' 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 26, 1929 UNITEDOIMSTATES PSATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. REED, or swamrsco'r'r; MASSACHUSETTS, AssIoNon, BY mrzsma ASSIGN- man'rs, T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, or rA'rERsoN, NEW mam,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

snon-snwme mcnnm.

r, Application filed November 11, 1922. Serial No. 600,224.

This invention relates to work clamping, feedingand'incising mechanism for sewing machines and especially, although not exclusi'vely, to lock-stitch shoe sewing machines of the general'type shown in my prior applications for Letters Patent, Serial No. 439,225, filed January 22, 1921; Serial No. 491,897, filed August 13, 1921; and Serial No. 542,666, filed March 10, 1922; of which applications this case is in the nature of a division in part and with respect to the subject matter which it has in common therewith.

The invention has for its object tospro vide an improved work-feeding awl or feed point and operating mechanism therefor adapted to impart thereto a positive fourmotion feed, said mechanism operating said awl to incise the work to a definite depth from the upper surface thereof and being, to this end, operatively connected with and controlled by the presser foot or other movable work-clamping member, but nevertheless ermitting the awl or feed point to remain in engagement with the work to feed the.

same when the presser foot is raised to release the work; said -awl or work-incising member being also of such a character as to formin the surface of the work a stitchreceiving channel, and to incise the work in such a manner as to avoid weakening the,

same to an objectionable extent along the line of the seam. t

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will b est be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, ma be otherwise practised without departure rom its spirit and scope. r

In said drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the head of the machine. 1 I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation thereof, showing also the upper end of the worksugporting horn. v

ig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4 of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 1s a fragmentary view of the mechanism formoving the feed point laterally to feedthe work.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the mechanism for moving the feed point toward and from the work.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the work,

illustrating the operation of the combined awl, feed point, and channel former.

Figf8 is an enlarged front elevation, and

Fig. 9 an enlarged side elevation, of said combined awl, feed point and channel former.

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the presser foot.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type described in my prior applications above referred to. Said machine is adapted primarily for sewing McKay shoes,but is also capable of use for many other purposes, as, for example, for stitching along the shanks on the inside of shoes of the Goodyear welt type. The machine sews a lock-stitch seam and has a straight, flattened, hooked needle 15 (see Fig ure 2) and a shuttle 16 supplying a shuttle thread on the outer side of the sole of the shoe or other work W, while within the shoe, or at the opposite side of said work, there is. a cooperating work-supporting horn 17 having in its tip an oscillating looper or whirl 18 supplying a cop or needle thread.

The needle 15 is carried by a needle bar 19 which is connected by a link 20 with a lever 21 pivoted in the head frame 22 and operated by a cam 23 on the main shaft 24 journalled in said head frame 22 and adapted to receive power from any suitable source through a loose pulley 25 and a suitable clutch and stop mechanism 26.

The shuttle 16 is of the discoidal type and is mounted in a shuttle race 27 supported at the bottom of the head frame 22 in a position to hold the shuttle with its front face slightly inclined to the path of the needle. The shuttle has a hook 28 projectin from its front face and extending circum erentially thereof, the arrangement being such that, as the shuttle is oscillate said hook will cross the path of the needl take the loop therefrom, and cast the same over the shuttle, said hook passing at one side of the path of the needle when in its uppermost position. The

- shuttle 16 is oscillated by a shaft 29 (see Figure 1) having a pinion 30 (see also Figure 2) engaged by a rack 31 carried"by an arm 32 pivoted int-he head frame and operated by a cam 33 on theshaft 24. J

The whirl 18 is oscillated, by mechanism not shown herein, to place a loop of cop thread in the open hook of the needle 15 when the latter is in its lowermost position, said loop being taken from the needle, when the latter rises, by the shuttle 16, and the shuttle thread being passed therethrough, as above explained. n

The parts thus far referred to,,'e xcept as they enter into combination with the parts hereinafter described, specifically form no portion of the present invention and may be of any suitable construction. and arrangement. They will, therefore, not be further discussed herein, as they are fully shown and described in my prior applications above referred to, and the foregoing explanation of their nature and function will be sufficient for [a complete understanding of the invention about to be described.

The work W is, during the stitch-forming operations, clamped upon the work-support ing horn 17 by a presser foot 34 carried by a presser foot bar35 guided for vertical movement in the head frame 22. Said presser foot is pressed toward the work by a torsion spring .36 carried by a rod 37 supported at its ends" in brackets 38 and 39 secured to the top of the headframe 22, said springengaging at one end a stud 40 carried by the presser foot bar 35. The presser foot 34, as shown in Figures 4 and 10, is preferably so shaped as partly to surround the feed point 42, hereinafter referred, to, and the path of the needle 15, and therefore to engage the Work about the stitch-forming point. In order to permit the work to be fed, the presser foot is periodically lifted by mechanism comprising a slide 43 on the presser foot bar 35, said slide carrying a pivoted dog 44 which is engaged by a bell crank lever 45 pivoted to the head frame 22 and having a roller which cooperates with a cam surface on the cam 23. The arrangement is such that, when the dog 44 is raised by the lever 45, it wiil first turn upon its pivot to engage the presser foot bar 35,the slide 43 being then lifted by the lever 45, acting through the dog 44, and carrying with it the presser fd'ot bar. As the dog 44 is released by the lever 45, it will, in turn, release the presser foot. bar 35, permitting the spring 36 to depress the latter, the slide 43 being independently depressed by a spring 46 to an extent determined by the en agement of an adjusting screw 47 carried y said slide with an ad acent portion of the head frame 22. The stroke of the lever 45 being constant, it will be seen that the movement imparted to the slide 43 will, depend upon the adjustment "of the screw 47, being, however, constant in to the amount of movement of said slide 43. ,It will, therefore, 'of the thickness of be seen that, irrespective the work W, the presser foot 34 will at each operation of the machine be lifted the same distance above the upper surface of the work, determined by adjustment of the screw 47.

q The presser foot may be lifted by the operator in order to permit the insertion or removal of the work by means of a lever 48 fulcrumed upon the bracket 39 and engaging at its forward end an opening in the presser foot bar 35, said lever being operated through suitable connections by a treadle (not shown) at the base of the machine.

The presser-foot mechanismjust described is not cTaimed herein, as it forms the subject matter of a divisional application filed October 20, 1923, Serial No. 669,829.

Mounted for adju. ment in suitable ways on the under side of the presser foot 34 is a sole edge guide, 49, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 10, said edge guide being secured in adj usted position by means of a screw 50. J

The feed-point 42 is suitably secured, as

by a set screw 51, to the lower end of a feed foot 52 As shown in Figures 8 and 9, said feed point is formed with a cutting edge 53 arranged transverse, and preferably oblique, to the line of feed, and above said cutting edge 53 with a shoulder forming a cutting or indenting edge 54 disposed longitudinally or in the direction of the line of feed. The cutting edge 53, which extends beyond the shoulder 54, is arranged to incisethe work for the passage of the flattened needle, and thereby perform the function of an awl, the incisions, which are shown at 55 in Figure 7, being this amount being transverse or oblique to the length of the seam, so as to avoid to as great'an extent as possible weakening of the material between the needle holes. The edge 54, which is of a length at least equal to that of the longest stitch, is adapted, upon successive operations of the feed point, to form a substantially continuous channel 56 in the face ofthe work to receive the seam 57." The edge 54may be a cutting edge to cut the stock, or may be relatively blunt so as to merely to indent the same, thereby, in effect, forming a continuous line of connected incisions constituting the channel 56.

The feed foot 52 issecured to or forms part of a feed point carrier slide 58 guided for movement toward and from the-work in a feed slide 59 which, in turn, is guided for lateral movementon the head frame 22, or preftudinally adjustable on an arm 64, being held in adjusted positionthereon by set screws 65. The arm 64 is carried by a\sleeve 66 loosely mounted on a shaft 67 journalled in suitable hearings in the head frame 22. The sleeve 66 is formed with a pair of lugs 68 carrying abutment screws 69 which engage at opposite sides a lug 70 on asecond sleeve 71 loosely mounted on the shaft 67. The sleeve 71 is formed with an arm 72 carrying a roller which cooperates with a cam 73 on the shaft 24. It will thus be seen that oscillation of the sleeve 71 will be transmitted through the lugs 70 and 68 to the sleeve 66 which, in turn, operating through. the bar 64, and slide 63, will produce a positive lateral movement of the feed slide 59 and feed point 42 to feed the work when said feed point is in engagement therewith. The amount of such lateral feed movement, and consequently the length of the stitches, will be determined by the adj ustment of the slide 63 on the arm 64, which determines the amplitude of movement of said slide. The oint of engagement of the feed oint with t e work, irrespective of the lengt of the feed stroke, may be varied-by adjustment of the abutment screws 69 to vary slightly the relative angular positions of the sleeves 66 and 71 upon the shaft-67.

The feed point carrier slide 58 is moved in the feed slide 59 to cause the feed point 42 to engage and incise or penetrate the work,

' andtodisengage the same, by means of a bell crank lever. 74' which is pivoted'at 75 to the presser foot bar 35. One arm of the bell crank lever 74 has pivoted thereto a block 76 which is received in a transverse groove 77 in the slide58, while the opposite arm of said lever is connected by a link 78 with a pin 80 projecting from an operating slide 79 guided for lateral movement in ways formed in the front face of the presser foot bar. It will be seen that lateral movement of the slide 79,-as transmitted through the bell crank, 74, will result in a vertical movement of the feed point carrier slide 58. The vertical position into which the feed point is moved by the bell crank lever 74 is not affected by the lateral movement of said feed point, since at this time the block- 76 moves idl in the groove 77 which is arallelto the ace of the work; The slide 79 is formed in itsmear face adjacent on end with a vertical groove 81 in which is guided a block 82 pivoted to an arm 83 having a hub 85 suitably secured, as b a set screw 84, to'the shaft 67. Also secure to said shaft, as by a set screw 86 (Figure 1'), is a second hub 87 having a pair of spaced lugs 88 and 89. The lugs 88 and 89 receive between them a third lug 90 on a sleeve 91 position.

loosely-mounted on the shaft 67 and having an arm 92 provided with a cam roller.cooperating with the cam 93 on the shaft 24. The lug 88 carries an-abutment screw 94, while the lug 89 carries a hollow abutment screw or threaded sleeve 95. By suitable adjustment of the abutment screws 94 and 95 the relative angular position of the hubs 87 and 91 may be determined, thereby determining the limits of movement of the feed point with respect to the presser foot. The adjustment of these abutment screws will always be such as to provide a certain amount of lost motion etween said screws and the lug 90 which is normally held against the abutment screw 94 by a plunger 97 guided in the sleeve 95 and backed b a spring 96 whose tension may be adjuste b a screw 98 in threaded engagement with t e interior of said sleeve. As will now be seen, movement of the sleeve 91 and lfig 90 in a clockwise direction will be followed by a corresponding clockwise move ment of the lugs 88 and 89, sleeve 87, shaft 67, and arm 83, and a consequent movement of the feed point 42 toward the work until said feed point encounters a resistance sufliwhereupon the lug 90 will engage the abut ment screw.95, and the remaining portion of the movement of the feed point to penetrate the work will be a positive one. Inasmuch, however, as the lever 74 is carried by the presser foot bar 35, and, therefore, movable with the presser foot, the lifting of the latter would tend to disengage the feed point from the work. When the resser foot rises, however,-the spring"96 agaln expands, causing the feed point to remain in its depressed Upon movement of the lug 90 in a counter-clockwise direction, engagement thereof with the abutment screw 94 will cause a positive movement of the arm 83 in a counter-clockwise direction and a positive withdrawal of the feed point from .the work.

It will thus be seen that the mechanism above described. rovides a four-motion feed in which all of t e movements are positively effected. It will also be seen however, that, notwithstanding the positive actuation of the feed point, the latter is permittedto remain in engagementwith the work when the f presser foot is lifted, although the, mechanism for moving the feed point toward and from the work is carried, in part, by the presser foot and controlled by the position thereof. The latter provision is an important one, inasmuch as it causes the workpenetrating movements of the feedpoint to e controlled by the position of the presser foot and consequently by the thickness of the work. The movement. of the feedpoint may be varied somewhat by adjustment of the abutment screws 94 and 95, this adjustment being a manually effected one in accordance with the requirements of any particular class of work, but the limits of this movetherewith toward and from the work and ment of the feed point, and particularly the also movable laterally to feed said work, and starting point thereof, will also be automatimeans for actuating said feed point, said accally varied in accordance with the thickness tuating means being adapted to cause said 5 of the work, thereby causing the feed point feed point to en age the work when said 70 to penetrate the work a constant amount presser foot is ,li ted. K and form a channel 56 of constant depth i1"'!\ 7. In a sewing machine, a movable presser respective of the thickness of the work. foot, a feed slide, an arm for operating said Having thus described my invention, I slide, means for connecting said arm and cla11n:'- slide, a feed point carried by said slide and 75 1. In a shoe sewing machine, stitch-formmovable thereon toward and from the work,- ing instrum'entalities including a needle, an a lever pivoted to said presserioot and operawl located on the same side of the work as atively connected with said feed point, an the needle for incising the work for the arm for operating said lever, and means for 15 passage of said needle, said awl havin an operating said arm, said parts includinga 80 edge disposed transverse to the length 0 the yielding connection adapted to hold said feed seam produced by said stitch-forming instrupoint in engagement with the work when said mentalities, and means for actuating the awl presser foot is raised. L to form an incision extending only partially 8. In a shoe sewing machine, in combinathrough the work. tion, a feed point, a work engaging member 85 2. In a shoe sewing machine, the combicontrolled as to its position by the thickness nation with stitch-forming mechanism inof the work, means controlled by said work eluding a hook needle, of feding mechanism engaging member for movin said feed point including a work engaging and feeding memwith relation to said mem er toward and her on the same side of the work" as the needle from the work to engage and release the same 90 having edges disposed respectively in the diand additional means for moving said feed rection of and transverse to the line of feed point laterally to feed the work when (in enand adapted respectively to form in the work gagement therewith. K 1

a substantially continuous channel to re- 9. In a shoe sewing machine, in combinaceive the seam and a series of transverse 1m, t1on,a presser foot, a feeding member, means 95 cisions for the passage of the needle. independent of said presser foot for support- 3. In a sewing machine, the combination ing and guiding said member, and means conwith stitch-forming instrumentalitles, of a nected with said presser foot for moving said. presser foot, and work feedlng mechanlsm member toward and from the work and vary- 7 comprising a feed slide guided for lateral ing its position with difi'erent thicknesses of I00 movement in a direction parallel to the sur work. a face of the work, means for reciprocating said i 10; In a shoe sewing machine, in combina j slide and a feed point movable on said slide tion, a presser foot, a feedpoint, means indei in a direction toward and from the work, said pendent of said presser foot for supporting 40 feeding mechanism being connected with said feed point and for guiding the same for 105 said presser foot to vary the operative polateral movement to feed the work, and means sition of said feed point with different thickcarriedby said presser foot for moving said nessesof work. feed point towards and \from the work. 4. In a sewing machine, a presser foot and 11. In a shoe sewing machine, in combinawork feeding mechanism comprising a feed tion, a presser foot,-a feed point, means inde- 1.10

slide guided for lateral movement in a di-, pendent of said presser foot for supporting rection parallel to the surface of the work, said feed point and for guiding the same for a member movable on said slide towards and lateral movement to feed the work, means from the work and provided with a feed carried by said presser foot for imparting point, and devices for positively operating to said feed point a stroke of constant length said slide and member respectively, one. of toward and,from theework, and means for said parts being connected with said presser reciprocating said feed point laterally. foot to vary the operative position of sald 12. In a s oe sewing 1nach1ne,in combinafeed point with different thicknesses ofwork. tion, aframe, a presser foot, :1 member mount- 55 5. In a sewing machine, a movable presser ed on said frame for lateral feeding movefoot, a feed slide, an arm for operating said ment, means for operating said member, a I slide, a feed point movably mounted on said feed point movable on said member to engage slide, a lever pivoted to saidpresser foot for and disengage the work, and means carried \operating said feed point and means includby said presser foot for actuating said feed ing an arm and a link tor operatlng sald point lever. 13. -In a shoe sewing machine, in combina- 6.'In a sewing machine, a vertically movtion, a frame, a presser foot, a feed slide able presser foot, means for lifting said guided on said framefor laterahmovement, presser foot, a feed point operatively conmeans for reciprocating said shde, a feed 65 nected with said presser foot and movable point movable on sald shde to engage and disengage the work, and means carried by said presser foot for actuating said feed point.

14; In a shoe sewin machine, the combination with a presser oot, of feeding mechanism including a laterally movable member,

means for operating thesame, a feed-point.

I movable on said member to engage and disframe, means for reciprocating said slide, a

feed point slide guided on said feed slide for movement toward and from the work, a feed point carried by said feed oint slide, a lever fulcrumed on said presser oot and operatively connected wlth said feed point slide, and

means for operating said lever.

16. In a shoe sewin machine, the combination with a presser fbot, of feeding mechanism including a feed point movable toward and from the work and laterally to feed the same, and means foractuating said feedpoint includin a bell crank lever pivoted to said presser oot, a grooved slide guided by said presser foot and operatively connected with said lever, and anoperating member engaging the groove in said slide.

17. In a shoe sewing machine, the combination with a frame and a presser foot carried thereby, of feedin mechanism including a member mounted for lateral, feeding movement on said frame, means for operating said member, a feed point movable on said memher to engage and disengage the work, and means for actuating said feed point including a bell crank lever pivoted to said presser foot, a grooved slide guided by said presser foot and operatively connected with said lever,and an operating member engaging the tion, a presser foot, means for lifting the same, a feeding member, means independent of said presser foot for supporting and guiding said member, and mechanism, including a part carried by said presser foot,;for posi-- 'tively actuating said feeding member, said mechanism having provision for permitting said presser foot to be lifted without moving said member. 2

19. In a shoe sewing machine, in combination, a feed point, means for reciprocating said feed point laterally to feed the work, a

presser foot, means for lifting the same, and mechanism, includin a part carried by the presser foot, for positively forcing said feed point toward the work and for positively withdrawing the same therefrom, said mechanism including a resilientlo'st motion connecwhen said presser agement with the work ootis lifted. r 20. In a shoe sewing machine, in combination, a feed point, means for reciprocating said feed point laterally to feed thework, a

, presser foot, means for lifting the same,

means carried by said presser foot for moving said feed point toward and from the work, an operating member for said last named means, an actuator having a lost motion connection with said operating member for positively moving said member in both directions, and a spring interposed between said actuator and operating member.

21. Ina shoe sewing machine, in combination, a work engaging member, a work incising member, and actuating means fon moving said work incising member with relation to said work engaging member towards and from the work connected with and controlled by said work engaging member to cause said in the direction of the line of feed and adapted to. form in the work a substantially continuous channel to receive the seam, and means for moving said member with its edge toward and from the work, said machine having provision forcausing said member to penetrate the work to a constant depth irre- 'spective of the thickness of the latter.

23. In a shoe sewing machine, awork in-' cising member, means for imparting to said member a stroke toward and from the work of constant length, and means controlled by the thickness of the work to vary the limits of said stroke andthereby cause said member to penetrate the work to a constant depth irrespective of the thickness of the latter.

24. In a shoe sewing machine, a work incising and feeding member, means fbr imparting-to said member a work feeding move ment, means for imparting to said member a stroke toward and from the work of constant length, and .means controlled b the thickness of the work to vary the limits of said stroke' and thereby cause said member to penetrate the work to a constant depth irrespective of the thickness of the latter.

25. In a shoe sewing machine, feeding mechanism including afeed point, a slide by which said feed point is carried, said slide having a transverse groove, a lever having means; to engage said groove, means for operating said lever to move said feed point and slide toward and from the work, and means for moving said feed point andslide laterally to feed the work.

26. In a shoe sewing machine, the comtion to cause said feed point to remain in enbination with a presser foot, of feeding mechanism including a feed point, a slide by which said feed point is carried, said slide havin a transverse groove, a lever pivoted to said presser foot and having means to engage said groove, means for operating said lever to move said slide and feed pomt toward and from the work, and means for moving said slide and feed point laterally with respect to said presser foot to feed the work.

27. In a shoe sewing machine, stitch-form ing mechanism including a straight hook needle, a work supporting horn arranged to extend within the shoe, needle threading mechanism located in the horn, work feeding mechanism and means for forming in the tread surface of the shoe sole during the sewing operation a stitch receiving channel of constant depth irrespective of the thickness of the work.

28. In a shoe sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a straight hook needle, a work supporting horn arranged to xtend within the shoe, needle threading mechanism located in the horn, a feeding member having a channel forming portion dis )osed in the direction of the line of feed, an means for actuating said member to feed the work and form in the tread surface of the sole a stitch receiving channel of constant delpth irrespective of the thickness of the so e.

29. In a shoe sewing machine, the combination with a frame and a presser foot carried thereby, of feeding mechanism including a member mounted on said frame for lateral feeding movement, means for operating said member, a feed point movable on said member to engage and disengage the work, and means controlled by the presser foot for actuating the feed point to engage and dis engage the work.

In a shoe sewing machine, stitcl1forn1- ing mechanism including a straight hook needle, a work supporting horn arranged to extend within the shoe, needle threading mechanism located in the horn, work feeding mechanism including a work feeding member having an edge disposed in the direction of the line of feed and adapted to form in the work a substantially continuous channel to receive the seam, and means for actuating said member positively to penetrate the work to a constant depth irrespective of the thickness of the latter.

31. In a shoe sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a straight hook needle, a work supporting horn arranged to extend within the shoe, needle threading mechanism located in the horn, a presser foot, a fed point, means independent of the presser foot for supporting and guiding the feed point for lateral movement to feed the work, and means-controlled by the presser foot for moving the feed point towards and from the work.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES H. REED. 

